Electric switch



Aug. 7, 1945. H. L. VAN VALKENBURG 2,381,848

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 3, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l /IZH BY @W M ATTGRNEYAug. 7, 1945. H. 1 VAN VALKENBURG .2,331,848

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 3, 1945 `4 sheets-sheet 2 Herma i uw MNM7,1945. H. L. VAN VALKENBURG 2,381,848

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 5, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENI'OR Aug. 7,1945.

H. L. VAN VALKENBURG ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May '3, 1945 fer/)e072 V472BY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Auf?, 1945 ELECTRIC SWITCH Hermon L. VanValkenburg, Wauwatosa, Wis., as-

signer to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application May 3, 1943, Serial No. 485,466

(Cl. 20D- 50) Claims.

'I'his invention relates to apparatus for making and breaking electricalcircuits and more particularly to enclosed electrical switches operableupon manual movement of an external operating handle.

One object oi' the present invention is to provide an improvedconstruction of an enclosed electrical switch operable by an operatinghandle carried on an openable cover. l

Another object o! the present invention is to provide an improvedelectric switch construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an enclosedelectric switch having improved means for effecting operation thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric switchenclosed within a cabinet and with an improved means for effecting anoperative connection between the external operating handle on the coverand the switching member of the electric switch.

Another object o! the present invention is to provide, in an electricswitch, improved means for eiecting snap movement of the switch contactsto break an electrical circuit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in an .enclosedelectric switch, an improved construction whereby the external operatinghandle can readily eilect movement of the switching member to break aweld between the contacts if welding should occur therebetween.

Another object oi the invention is to provide an improved enclosedelectric switch that is of simple construction, efficient in operationand inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the specification and appendeddrawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the switch cabinet embodying thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the interior of the switchcabinet, the cover having been removed. l

Figure 3 is a sectional III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional IV-IV oi' Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional V-V of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI oi! Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional line VII-VII of Figure 2.

view taken along the line view taken along the line view taken along theline view taken along the spaced generally Figure 8 is a sectional viewtaken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the underside of thecover showing the position of the interlocking mechanism when theoperating handle is in ofP' position, and showing in dotted outline theposition of the interlocking mechanism when the handle has been moved tocover unlocking position.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 but showing the position of theinterlocking mechanism when the operating handle is in the on" position.

Figure l1 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a, fragmentary plan view showing the position of variousparts when the switch is in contacts engaged position.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention, asillustrated, comprises a cabinet l having a rectangular box-like sheetmetal body portion 2 and a pan-shaped cover 3, of smaller voutline thanthe body portion, hingedly mounted thereon. The cover 3 is adapted toswing to the right in moving to open position. The box 2 is provided, atall four sides, with integral, inwardly directed iianges 4. The edges ofthe flanges 4 are upwardly bent as at 5 to parallel the sides 6 of thepan-shaped cover 3 as shown in Figure l1. Secured to the rear wall 1 ofthe cabinet I and extending forwardly therefrom are mounting posts 8disposed in pairs adjacent the top and bottom of the cabinet. A metallicU-shaped mounting plate 9 is secured in inverted position tothe posts 8by studs Il. Posts 8 space the plate 9 from rear wall l to provide awiring space for the lead-in wires and prevents their interfering withmoving parts within the cabinet. An insulating base I2 of generallyrectangular shape, but with a portion l0 projecting from one side, ismounted on plate 9, being disposed thereczrl near the top thereof andadjacent the right hand edge, as shown in Figure 2. A pair of studs I3,receivable within recesses I4 formed in the top surface of base I2,extend through the bottom of the base I2 and are adapted to be threadedinto the face of mounting plate 9 to rigidly secure the base I2 thereto.The insulating base I2 is formed with a plurality of individualcompartments I5, I8 and Il therein and with the central compartment I6being separated from the other compartments by barrier walls I8 and I9.Within each of the compartments, there is provided a pair of L-shapedstationary contact members 2| and 22, mounted at either end of acompartment.

Figure 8 illustrates the general form of the stationary contact members2 I and 22. Leg 22 of contact member 2| is ntted into a depression inthe top wall 24 of the insulating base I2v which prevents its turningout of position. A stud 25 and its cooperating nut 25 secure leg 22 towall 24. 'Ihe opposite contact member 22 is maintained in place byhaving its leg 21 disposed within a depression in wall 2l and with astud 2l securing it to the wall. A second leg 2l of contact member 2land a second leg l2 of contact member 22 are each provided with acontacting surface 32, which contacting surfaces are so disposed withina compartment that they lie in the same plane but are spaced from oneanother. Terminal members 34, 95 and $5 are secured one to each of thestationary contact members 2I by studs 25, and each terminal membercarries a terminal stud 21 for securing circuit wires to the switch.Fuse clips l5, 29 and 4I are electrically and mechanically connected oneto each of the stationary contact members 22 and by the studs 29. It isto be noted that each stationary contact member 2I and its cooperating`terminal member is held in position on wall 24 by one stud 25, and thateach of the stationary contact members` 22 and its cooperating fuse clipis secured to the opposite wall 29 by one stud 29. A movable elongatedinsulating switching member or bar 42 is disposed on the insulating baseI2. The end walls 43 and 44 of base I2 and the interior barrier walls I5and I9 are each provided with a recess 45 extending from the topsurfaces thereof, which recesses 45 are so located within theirrespective walls that they will be in horizontal alignment, whereby theyare adapted to receive the elongated member 42 to act as a guidetherefor, and to confine the movements of this member 42 to arectilinear path. The recesses 45 are formed to a suicient depth thatwhen the elongated member 42 is disposed therein, the top surface 45thereof lies substantially in the plane of the top surface of theinsulating base I2. 'I'he movable elongated member 42 carries aplurality of movable contact assemblies 41 spaced along the lengththereof, there being one of such assemblies disposed within each of thecompartments I5, I5 and I1, and each adapted to cooperate with thestationary contact set 2 I-22 disposed within these compartments toeifect the making and breaking of electrical circuits. The movablecontact assemblies 41, as shown in Figure 3, each comprise a generallyC-shaped member 48 secured to the bar 42 by rivets 49. A bridgingcontact member 5I is fitted into the s pace defined by the legs of theC-shaped members 45 and extends beyond either side of this member 45 asshown in Figure l2, to span the contacting surfaces 33 of stationarycontact members 2| and 22. A compression spring 52 is likewise disposedwithin the space bounded by the legs of the shaped member 45, with oneend of the spring 52 bearing against a leg 52 of C-shaped member 45 andthe other end being disposed against the back surface of the bridgingcontact member I, and exerts its bias thereupon to normally maintain thecontact members 5I in engagement with leg 54 of member 45. Each of themovable contact assemblies 41 are so located within their respectivecompartments relative to the stationary contact members 2| and 22 thatupon movement of the bar 42, in a manner to be hereinafter described, tocarry a bridging contact II into contacts engaged position, the bridgingcontact II, upon engagement. will be moved backwardly against the biasof the spring 52 to thereby enact a substantial contact pressure betweenthe movable contact 5I and the stationary contacts I2. A movable contactconstruction as described provides for the ready self-alignment of themovable contacts 5I when moved into contacts engaged position. As can beseen from Figure 3, the movable contacts 5I will move in a rectilinearpath between contacts engaged and contacts disengaged position, and inthe construction above described, each of the plurality of movable contacts 5I is adapted to engage and disengage its cooperating stationarycontact members 2l and 22 substantially simultaneously as the othermovable contacts 5I to thereby make and break a plurality of circuitssubstantially simultaneously; it is understood that if desired, themovable contact assemblies 41 may be so spaced along bar 42 and solocated relative to the various sets of stationary contact members 2land 22 that one bridging contact member 5I can be brought into contactsengaged position either ahead of or behind another bridging contactmember 5I, dependent upon which condition is sought to be satisfied. Anelongated insulating member 55 is disposed over the movable bar 42,extending the width of base I2 and resting upon the top surfaces of thevarious walls 43, 44, Il and I9 of base I2 to close the recesses 45 andto enclose that length of the bar 42 lying within the walls of the baseI2. Studs 55 secure the insulating member 55 to base I2. A pair ofmounting posts 55, internally threaded at both ends, are secured to baseI2 adjacent the top edge thereof and disposed one on either sde.of thecenter terminal member Il. Each of the mounting posts 55 are disposedfor part of their length within recesses provided in the top of wall 24of base I2. A pair of studs 51 threaded into the bottoms of the mountingposts 55 secure them firmly to the wall 24. An elongated rectangularshaped insulating member 55 is mounted on the posts 55 being heldthereon by studs 59, which are threaded into the top of the posts 55.The insulating member 5I extends the width of base I2 and forms a roofover the terminal members 24, 35 and 25. and overlaps insulating member55 which is spaced therefrom. The insulating member 5I lessens thepossibility of accidental dislodgment of the terminal members, or of thecircuit wires secured thereto, for access to these parts is made verydiiiicult when the insulating member 5I is in place. A generallyU-shaped insulating member 5I is disposed about the center fuse clip 25e'ectively insulating it from the fuse clips 2l and 4I on either sidethereof. The insulating member 5I is provided with a pair of projectingportions or prongs 52 which are receivable within recesses in the topsurface of base I2 to maintain the insulating member on the base and toassist in readib locating the member on the base and prevent itstwisting out of position.

A second insulating base 5I is provided within the cabinet I, disposedupon the mounting plate 9 and spaced a substantial distance frominsulating base I2. A mounting bracket 54 is secured to the plate 9 bystuds 55 and to this mounting bracket 54 the insulating base 52 issecured by studs 55. On the top surface of the insulating base 5I, aplurality of fuse clips 51, 5I, and 5l are mounted. Studs 1I securethese fuse clips to the top surface of insulating base 83. These studs1| also secure a terminal member 12 to each of the fuse clips 81, 68 and69. Terminal studs 13 are carried by each of the terminal members 12 andare adapted to extend into recesses 14 provided in the top of base 83 tothereby prevent the fuse clips turning out oi' position. A generallyU-shaped insulating member 15 is provided about the center fuse clip5,8, and the legs of the U-shaped member 15 will insulate the centerfuse clip 68 from the fuse clips 61 and 68 on either side thereof. Stud13 secures the insulating member 15 to the base 63. The fuse clips 61,68 and 69 are so arranged upon the insulating base 63 as to verticalyalign respectively with the fuse clips 34, 35 and 36 whereby each pairof fuse clips cooperate to receive a cartridge type fuse 16, one ofwhich is shown in full line representation in Figures 2 and 4.

Operating mechanism for effecting movement of the movable contactcarrying member 42 is provided within the cabinet immediately to theleft of the insulating base I2 and embodies a generally U-shapedsupporting bracket 11 which is secured to the mounting plate 9 by studs18 and is indented as at 88 to receive projection I8 of base |2. Apost-like member 19 is carried by bracket 11 at the lower end thereofand pivotally supports a member 8|. A cotter pin 82 maintains the member8| on post 19. A rotatable shaft-like member 83 comprising a rectangularblock-shaped portion 85 from the bottom face of which projects acylindrical portion 84, is located at the opposite end of bracket 11.'I'he cylindrical portion 84 extends through the bracket 11 and throughan opening iny plate 9, directly beneath, to thereby position the'member 83 at right angles to the back wall ofthe cabinet I. Shaft 83 ismaintained in this position by a pair of cotter pins 86 and Washers 81carried by that portion of cylinder 84 disposed between the bracket 11and the plate 9 which prevents the removal of the member 83. A disk-likemember 88 is pivotally disposed upon that portion of the cylinder 84lying above the bracket 11 and has a second disk 88 secured to theundersurface thereof as by welding. A series ofbushings are providedthrough which the cylinder 84 is adapted to pass. Two of the bushings 9|are formed integral with the disks 88 and 89; another. 98 is formed uponthe lower surface of bracket 11. The lower of the bushings 9| spaces thedisk 88 above the top surface of bracket 11. Disk 88 is recessed at itsperiphery as at 82, as seen in Figure 6, for a purpose to be explained.A second disk-like member 93 having a flange portion 94 integraltherewith and bent upwardly therefrom is secured, by a stud 95 passingthrough the flange I4, to the rectangular portion 85 of member 83,

l and is spaced from the disk-like member 88. A second flange 96 isformed on member 93 and L extends downwardly into recess 82 in member88. Alternate engagement of flange 96 with the opposed defining edges 91and 88 of recess 92 will eiect pivotal movement of the disk member 88 inopposite directions on pivotal movement of disk 83. A generally V-shapedmember 89 interconnects the disk member 88 and the pivotal member 8|whereby movement of disk 88 positively effects movement of member 8|.The member 98 is pivotally connected to an extension |8| on disk 88 bypin |82, and is pivotally connected to a flange |83 on pivotal member 8|by a pin |84. The supporting bracket 11 is upwardly bent as at and aflange |88 is formed on this bent portion and extends into a recess |81which, like recess 92, is formed in the periphery of the disklike member88. Alternate engagement of the,

defining edges |88 and |88 of the recess 96 with the flange or stop |86upon movement in oppositie directions limits the extent of pivotalmovement of the disk 88 in these opposite directions. Interconnectionbetween disk 93 and the actuating member 8| is effected by an elongatedmember which is held in pivotal engagement with disk 93 by a pin ||2.The opposite end of the connecting member passes through an openingprovided in flange |3 formed upon the lower end of pivotal member 8|. Acompression spring ||4 is disposed about the shank portion of theconnecting member and is confined between the back surface of the flange||3 and shoulders ||5 provided on connecting member The purpose ofcompression spring ||4 will be hereinafter described. Pivotal member 8|carries a pin H6, which pin is closely received within an openingprovided at the left hand endof the movable contact carrying bar 42 tothus effect a pivotal connection between the actuating member 8| and thebar 42 and provide a means whereby the bar 42 can be recprocably movedwithin recesses 45 to effect engagement and disengagement of the movablecontacts 5| with the stationary contacts 33. A winged or slotted member||1 is secured at the top of shaft 83 to the rectangular portion 85 by astud ||8, with the fiat wing portions |9 and |2| of the member ||1 beingdisposed in the same plane. and parallel to the bottom wall of thecabinet An operating handle |22 is rotatably mounted upon the exteriorsurface of cover 3. The operating handle |22 has formed therewith ashaft |23 which extends through aligned openings in the cover 3 and inthe bight |24 of a generally U-shaped bracket |25 disposed on theunderside of cover 3. Legs |26 and |21 of the bracket |25 are bentoutwardly and are welded to the underside of the cover 3 to secure thebracket |25 to cover 3. A stud |28 threaded into the bottom of shaft |23prevents the removal of the operating handle |22 from cover 3. Anactuating plate |28 of generally triangular shape is rigidly secured toshaft |23 and is movable therewith upon rotation of handle |22, and liesin a plane substantially parallel to the undersurface of cover 3.. Theplate |29 is provided with a radial slot |3| which receives a pin |32carried by bight |24 of bracket |25. The pin |32 cooperates with thedefining edges of the slot |3| to limit the extent of pivotal movementof plate |29 and of handle |22 in opposite directions. Leg |21 of the U-shaped bracket |25 is bent at one end away from the cover 3 to provide aportion |33 which is spaced from the undersurface of the cover 3. Theportion |33 is slotted as at |34 to receive a projecting end |35 of atorsional or overcenter spring |36 whose central portion is coiled; theopposite end |31 of the spring |36 is inserted in an opening |38provided in a projection |39 provided on the actuating plate |29. Flange|4| bent downwardly from plate |28 is adapted to extend into the spacebetween the wings ||9 and |2| of member ||1 whereby, upon rotation ofthe operating handle |22, movement of the winged member ||1 is effectedfor a purpose to be hereinafter fully described. A second downwardlyextending flange |42 is provided on plate |29 and serves a purpose alsoto be hereinafter described.

The exterior surface of cover I is marked with the indicia "On. Oi!,"and "Unlocked" to indicate the operating positions assumed by handle|22. The switching unit within the cabinet I will be in circuit closingposition when handle I22 occupies the on" position and will be actuatedto break the circuit upon rotation of the handle |22 to "ofi" position.Movement of the handle |22 to "unlocked" position actuates aninterlocking means. to be described, to releasing position to permitcover I to be opened. Interlocking means for normally locking the coverI to prevent opening thereof in all positions of the operating handle|22 except when this handle is moved to "unlocked" position is providedin the form of the generally triangular-shaped plate |2I and theinwardly directed nange I on box 2 cooperating therewith, for plate |29is adapted, when the cover I is closed. to normally continually engagewith flange I to prevent the cover I being opened except when handle |22is moved to unlocked" position, in which position plate |29 lies out ofengagement with flange I. Assume the cover I closed and the handle |22in its on position, corner III of the plate |29 will then be disposedbeneath the ilange I of the box 2, and with nange I thus projecting-into the path of movement of plate I2I, the cover I cannot be opened.Figure 9 is a view looking up at the undersurface of cover I andillustrates the position of plate |29 when the handle I22 is in onposition. If the handle I22 were moved to off position, a corner III ofthe plate III would be located beneath the flange I of the box 2, andagain flange I cooperates with plate |29 to prevent the cover I beingopened. If the handle |22 were moved to "unlocked position, it wouldmove the plate |2I to the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 9;in this position both of the corners III and III would be clear offlange I and there would then be no obstruction in the path of movementof plate |29 and, therefore, the cover I could be manually rotated tounlocked position.

In the movement of the handle I22 between "on" and "ofi positions, theline of action of spring III is movable across the axis of shaft |23,and the spring III will exert its force to maintain the operating handle|22 either in the ofl" position or in the "on" position, dependent onwhich side of shaft |23 the line of action of spring |36 has been movedto. Handle I22 can be made to occupy intermediate positions between on"and o|f only on the continued application of an external force. Onrotation of the handle |22 to unlocked position, the handle must bemanually held in that position, against the bias of spring |36, untilthe cover I is rotated to open position. If the handle |22 were moved tounlocked" position and released before the cover I were opened, it wouldbe moved to "off" position by the spring |36, for at that moment thespring IIB is exerting its bias to move the handle |22 to the offposition and thus the cover would be held closed because of theinterlocking means.

'I'he handle I22 comprises a hub portion IIS which is slotted at the topas at IIB and has a plurality of apertures III in the rim thereof whichalign with apertures of a cup-shaped element (not shown) disposed withinthe hub |I when the handle I22 is in either on or off position. To lockthe handle |22 in either of these positions, it is necessary only toinsert a padlock (not shown) through the proper apertures.

The manner of effecting the operation of the switching unit carriedwithin cabinet I will now be described.

Rotation of handle I22 will effect a rotative movement of plate |29, andflange III extending from plate I2I will positively engage one or theother of wings II9 or III, dependent on the direction in which flangeIII is moving, to elect rotation of the winged member III in a likedirection. Actuation of the winged member II'I will effect a rotatablemovement of the shaft II to which it is rigidly secured. Now, assumingthe various parts to be in the position illustrated in Figures 2 and 6,which is the contacts off position,movement of the handle |22in acounterclockwise direction from the "off" position to the on positionwill rotate shaft II in a like direction to move the disk-like member IIcarried thereon. Flange 96 depending from disk member II will be movedfrom defining edge 98 of recess I2 in the periphery of disk member IIand into engagement with edge 91 thereof; continued movement of theflange 96 will then effect rotation of disk III, and disk I8 will movemember II interconnecting the disk I9 and the pivotal member I I. Member99 will then positively move the pivotal member II about its pivot 19,and the pivotal member BI having a pin and slot connection with themovable contact carrying bar I2 moves this bar I2 rectilinearly to theright to carry the plurality of movable contacts 5| thereon intoengagement with the stationary contact members 2| and 22 to make theelectrical circuits controlledthereby. Denning edge IIII of reces IIIIon disk 98 will, during the movement of disk BI, be moved until itengages stop |06 and this will prevent any further rotation of theoperating handle |22 in counter-clockwise direction and thus define theon position of handle |22. Connecting rod I I I secured to disk 93 will,on this movement of the disk 93 effected by the counterclockwiserotation of the handle I22, be moved to the position of Figure 12wherein the spring I II will be compressed between shoulders III on rodIII and the back surface of ilange III on bracket 1l. Disk I8 and member99 comprise a toggle connection between the rotatable member I3 and thepivotal member Il. Movement of the operating handle |22 to on positionwill move the toggle connecting pin |02 from the left side to the rightside of the centerline between the centers of disk II and connecting pinIII to throw the toggle overcenter, and engagement of the defining edge|08 with stop IIIB will lock this toggle in the over-set orover-travelled position to thereby lock the movable contact carrying barI2 in contacts engaged position. Movement of the operating handle |22 inthe reverse, or clockwise, direction from on to "off" position willeffect a reverse movement of the operating parts. Flange 9B on disk 93will move from edge 91 to edge 9B to effect a positive clockwiserotation of disk 88; and disk BB will move the end of connecting member99 pivotally secured thereto by pin |Ii2. As soon as pin |02 is moved tothe left of the centerline above described, spring III, which wascompressed on movement of the handle to on position, will suddenlyexpand and will exert force upon flange I I3 to effect a snap movementof the pivotal member 9|, this snap movement of the pivotal member IIwill be transmitted to the movable contact carrying bar I2 in eitherdiretcion.

2,381,848 through pin I I6 to snap it to the left to effect a.

snap disengagement between movable contacts and the stationary contactmembers 2| and 22. When disk 39 is first moved, clockwise, by flange 93,the pivotal member 8| pivots slightly being actuated by the connectingmember 99 which, being connected to disk 88 by pin |02, is made to move;movement of the pivotal member 9| will move the bar 42 a slight amountbut the movable contacts remain in engagement with the stationarycontacts because of bias exerted by springs 52 and will continue to doso until spring ||4 is allowed to come into action, whereupon themovable contacts 5| disengage from the stationary contacts with a snap.Engagement of the defining edge |09 of the recess |01 on disk 88 withstop |06 limits the extent of clockwise movement of the operating handle|22 and the various parts moved thereby, and stops the handle 22 in the"off position. Thus, the defining edges |08 and |09 and the stop |06 actto limit the extent of rotative movement of the operating handle |22And, as was described above, the combination of the pin |32 provided oncover 3 and the radial slot I3| provided in plate I 29 also acts tolimit the rotative movement of the handle |22 in either direction; inthe closed position of the cover, these latter limiting means would beunnecessary for the edges |08 and |09 and the stop |06 would define theon and "off" positions of the operating handle, but with the cover open,the pin and slot arrangement is necessary.

If the handle I 22 were in the on position, indicating that the contactswere engaged, and it was desired that the cover be opened, it would benecessary, as above indicated, to move handle 22 to the position markedUnlocked before the cover could be swung open. This movement of thehandle 22 to unlocked position rotates the plate |29 so that corners |43and |44 are aligned as to be clear of the flange 4 and thereby removingthe obstruction in the path of movement of plate |29. When the handle|22 is moved to "unlocked position, the toggle 88-99 will be moved justovercenter by rotation of shaft 83 and spring I I4 will then becomeeffective and will exert its bias upon flange ||3 to move the pivotalmember 9| and effect snap disengagement of the contacts scribed, so thatbefore the cover 3 is moved open, the contacts will be disengaged. Uponswinging the cover 3 to open position, the flange |4| will be moved frombetween wings I9 and 2| and spring ||4 can then exert its bias throughconnecting member III upon disk 93 to continue the rotation of shaft 83to carry the slotted member |I`| to the position of Figure 2. With thecover 3 Opened, if' the handle |22 is then released, it will be rotatedby the force of the overcenter spring |36 from "unlocked position to"ofi position, for the force of spring |36 is at the time of releasebeing exerted in a direction which can only move the handle |22 to ofFposition.

From the above description, it is apparent the cover 3 cannot be openedwhile the contacts are engaged for the interlocking means prevents this,and when the cover 3 is opened, it is done so only after the contactshave been actuated to disengaged position. If the contacts were desiredto be re-engaged, the cover 3 must first be moved toward closed positionand flange |4| must be received in the space between wings ||9 and I2I;

as was hereinbefore dewith the handle |22 in ofi' position, corner 44 ofplate |29 extends over flange 4 and the cover 3 cannot be fully closed;therefore, the handle |22 must be rotated counter-clockwise a sufficientdistance that corner |44 clears the innermost edge of flange 4, but withcorner |43 held out of obstructing position, whereupon the cover 3 willbe able to fully close. Actuation of handle |22 to effect contactmovement cannot be had, even though corners |44 and |43 are not inobstructing position unless the door 3 is fully closed, for if the coverwere held open even a slight amount, fiange |42 and the edges of plate|29 would engage the portion 5 of flange 4 and prevent operatingmovement of handle |22; and, it is not until the top surface of plate I29 is carried to a position that is below the undersurface of flange 4that the handle |22 can be rotated as desired and actuation of themovable contacts 5| into engagement with stationary contacts 33 can thenbe accomplished in the manner hereinbefore described. Once the cover 3has been opened and it is desired to reclose it, it will always benecessary to have the handle |22 first in its off position, for theformations on the operating plate |29 would otherwise be effective toprevent it, that is the flange I4| will not be receivable within thespace between wings ||9 and |2| but rather would engage the fiat uppersurfaces thereof; and, further, ange 42 would be disposed outside of theridge 5 and will rest on the outer surface of flange 4, and either issufficient to hold the cover open, If inadvertently the winged memberI|`| were moved by hand or otherwise to the position of Figure 12 whichis the contacts engaged position of the switch, while the cover 3 wasopened, the cover could not be closed for if the handle |22 were movedto "on position to align flange I4I with the space between wings ||9 andI2I, the fiange |42 on plate |29 would be disposed outside of ridge 5and on top of the outer surface of flange 4 and will be engageable withthe ridge to prevent the handle being rotated; so, therefore, it willfirst be necessary to manually actuate winged member |I1 to the positionof Figure 2 before the device of this invention could be put intooperation. Flange I 42 has another function in that when the cover isclosed and contacts are engaged, it is not possible to move the handle|22 to unlocked position, which effects disengagement of the contacts,and open the cover 3 slightly and then actuate the handle 22 back to on"position to throw the contacts back into reengagement, and this with thecover 3 open, for flange |42 will engage ridge 5 and interfere withrotation of handle |22 until it is moved above the ridge 5, but theflange |42 is of a certain length that by the time it clears ridge 5,flange I 4| will be moved out of the space between wings |I9 and |2|and, therefore, the interconnection between the handle |22 and thecontained mechanism will be broken, and thus the handle I 22 can have noeffect on the actuation of the contacts when the cover 3 is open,

It is to be noted that with the arrangement of parts as above described,it is possible to effect disengagement of the contacts even though theymay have welded together and spring I 4 is ineffective to move switchmember 42, for the exerted upon the manual operating handle |22 can bepositively transmitted to the switch member 42 to effect movementthereof and the disengagement of the contacts. As described, handle |22has a positive connection with the slotted member III through flange Illto effect rotationof the shaft I3; member il supported on shaft Il willengage and move disk Il through the flange l., and disk ll connected tomember Il by the member I9 will move it, whereby member Il having a pinand slot connection with switch member 42 exerts a positive forcethereon to move it to the left. Under normal conditions, member it willmove member I I only until pin |02, joining members Il and Il, passesovercenter, at which time the force exerted by spring Ill will effectthe movement of the switch member 42, but with a condition of weldexisting spring Illl is ineifective; however. member Il will continue tomove under the force applied by the operating handle i!! and this forcewill be positively applied by member Il upon switch member I2 to breakthe weld between the contacts.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have beenspecifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is notlimited thereto. as many variations will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadestpossible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a switching device, an enclosing cabinet, an openable covertherefor, an operating handle on said cover, an electric circuitcontrolling instrumentality mounted within said cabinet, said electriccircuit controlling instrumentality comprising an insulating base,stationary and movable contacts thereon, and a movable switch member formoving said movable contact into and out of engagement with saidstationary contact to effect the switching operation, actuating meansfor effecting movement of said movable switch member, said actuatingmeans comprising a pivotal member operatively connected to said movablemember, a rotatable member, toggle means interconnecting said rotatablemember and said pivotal member, said toggle means being operative tolock said movable switch member in contacts-engaged position, and meansinterconnecting said operating handle and said actuating means wherebysaid operating handle can move said actuating means to effect movementof said movable switch member to perform the switching operation.

2. In a switching device, an enclosing cabinet, an openable covertherefor, an operating handle on said cover, an electric circuitcontrolling instrumentality mounted within said cabinet, said i electriccircuit controlling instrumentality comprising an insulating base,stationary and movable contacts, and a movable switch member for movingsaid movable contact into and out of engagement with said stationarycontact to effect the switching operation, actuating means for effectingmovement of said movable switch member, said actuating means comprisinga pivotal member operatively connected with said movable member, arotatable member, toggle means interconnecting said rotatable member andsaid pivotal member, said toggle means being operative to lock saidmovable switch member in contacts engaged position, and meansinterconnecting said operating handle and said actuating means wherebysaid operating handle can move said actuating means to effect movementof said movable switch member `to perform the switching operation, andresilient means actuable on said pivotal member to effect snap movementof said movable switch member in one direction.

3. In an enclosed switch, an enclosing cabinet, an openable covertherefor, an operating handle thereon, a switching device mounted withinsaid cabinet, said switching device comprising an insulating base,stationary and movable contacts therein, a switching member foreffecting movement of said movable contact into and out of engagementwith said stationary contact, actuating means for moving said switchingmember to perform the switching operation, said actuating meanscomprisins a pivotal member operative on said switching member formovement thereof, a shaft rotatably supported upon a wall of saidcabinet, a first member supported on said shaft, means interconnectingsaid first member and said pivotal member whereby the former can actuatethe latter, a second member supported on said shaft, and means effectinga resilient interconnection between said second member and said pivotalmember and operative to eiect a snap movement thereof, a movable memberdisposed within said cabinet, spaced from said actuating means andmovable by said operating handle, and means carried by said movablemember to effect a separable connection between said movable member andsaid actuating means for the switching member whereby said operatinghandle can effect movement of said actuat-l ing means to move theswitching member to effect the switching operation.

4, In an enclosed switch, an enclosing cabinet, an openable covertherefor, an operating handle thereon, a switching device mounted withinsaid cabinet. said switching device comprising an insulating base,stationary and movable contacts therein, a switching member foreffecting movement of said movable contact into and out of engagementwith said stationary contact, actuating means for moving said switchingmember to perform the switching operation, said actuating meanscomprising a pivotal member oper- `ative on said switching member formovement thereof, a shaft rotatably supported upon a wall of saidcabinet, a first member supported on said shaft, means interconnectingsaid first member and said pivotal member whereby the former can actuatethe latter, a second member supported on said shaft, and means effectinga resilient interconnection between said second member and said pivotalmember and operative to effect a snap movement oi' said pivotal member.an operating member mounted on the interior surface of said cover andmovable by said operating handle, a slotted member carried by saidshaft, means extending from said operating member and receivable withinthe slot of said slotted member to provide a separable connectionbetween said operating member and said slotted member whereby saidoperating handle can move said actuating means to move the switchingmember.

5. In an enclosed switch, an enclosing cabinet, an openable covertherefor, an operating handle thereon, a switching device mounted withinsaid cabinet, said switching device comprising an insulating base,stationary and movable contacts therein, a switching member foreffecting movement of said movable contact for cooperation with saidstationary contact, a pivotal member operatively connected to saidswitching member for movement thereof to perform the switchingoperation, a shaft-like member rotatably supported upon a wall of saidcabinet, a first memher supported on said shaft, means interconnectingsaid first member and said pivotal member whereby the former can actuatethe latter, resilient means operative to effect a snap movement oi saidpivotal member, an operating plate-like member mounted on the interiorsurface of said cover and disposed substantially parallel thereto, saidplate-like member being movable by said Operating handle, a flange on aside wall of said cabinet cooperating with said plate-like member toretain the cover closed in all positions ot said operating handle exceptone predetermined position, a. slotted member carried by seid shaft.means extending from said operating member and receivable by the slot ofsaid slotted member to effect a. separable connection between saidplate-like member and said slotted member whereby said operating handlecanmove said pivotal member to effect movement of said switching member.

HERMON L. VAN VALKENBURG.

